For Natural Girls Who've Considered Throwing Back on The Creamy Crack
Dear Naturalista in Distress,
I see you. I hear you. I’ve been you. Put those clippers down you don’t know how to use. Put that perm back in the box. For the love of all that is holy, take that protective style down that’s been in way too long. In a world that constantly tries to tame our features, especially our hair, I urge you to travel take the road of self-compassion and discovery. And most of all, ask for some help!
Growing up, getting my hair done was the bane of my existence. From the soapy eyes, day long sessions, and subsequent aches and pains from perpetual stillness. It was a mess. To top it off, as lovingly as my mom tried to provide care, we didn’t share the same texture and her old school tricks were no weapon for my strong tresses. I prefer to hide most of my childhood photos from three to ten-years-old. The dry damaged ends, lopsided pigtails, and undeveloped texture took a toll on my crown.
At age nine, I was finally old enough to get a perm. It’s own unique rite of passage, although it ushered in a new attack. Over-processing, scalp burns, and increased heat use sent my hair growth cycle on a constant roller coaster of thriving and deprivation. Plus, most of this was under the care of paraprofessionals, AKA the beauty school. And inevitably every year, I had to get a restart bob and try it again.
As I entered college, the return to natural movement was in full swing. I began my transition with quarterly perms, but relatively still poor at-home care inbetween. Still using products full of things I couldn’t pronounce and not getting regular trims. However, thanks to YouTube University I was finally getting schooled on the knowledge that was long overdue to treat my crown with the opulence it deserved. Deep conditioning treatments, natural ingredients, real protective styles.
The summer before I went to graduate school, I finally decided to take the plunge….the BIG CHOP. I loved that little cut too—until the humidity set in (LOL). While I was leveling up my academic knowledge, I simultaneously began to relearn what my hair actually looked like, and what it needed to strive. Slowly but surely that TWA returned to shoulder length. My length retention still needed some work, but for once I loved MY hair in it’s own state.
June 2020
The cut that restarted my journey.
Fast forward to professional life, I was still coasting along brushing my shoulders. I was five-years natural at this point and resolved my hair would never touch my back, so why bother. I was wearing wigs, weaves and more to get that “look.” Might as well chop it all off again so I didn’t have to do these twist downs because your girl still can’t braid. But then the pandemic hit, desperate and defeated I decided I was going to do what should have done before, entrust my haircare with the professionals. Now, I acknowledge I had hit a level of privilege to afford regular care from a professional, but honestly if I lost it all I’d still hustle my way to seeing my stylists. And here’s why….
May 2021
This is almost one year’s worth of growth! Bra strap, here we come!!
In less than ONE year, I went from scraggly shoulder length to almost brushing my BRA STRAP. (There is a God!) This is the longest my hair has been EVER. No bull. My primary stylist told me in our first meeting, my hair should have been much longer as long as I’ve been natural and she proved it. (More about her in the next blog.) The other benefit is my in-between maintenance has improved because I don’t want to let her down when I get back in the chair (CRINE). And, I think I’ve finally found my staple products.
I say all of this to say, lovelies, stay the course. Most importantly, make healthy hair in general a priority. If you do return to the creamy crack, please use a professional and get your routine together because the growth is for the patient and attentive. And if you shave it off, keep it lined up, Sis! All in all, be kind to your crown queen.
Let Yooo SOUL GLO!